Authors to read

[Chompa]

Jim Butcher is obviously a great choice for the group. His Dresden Files books are probably the most popular of the non-romance Urban Fantasy genre. With over a dozen books out, he's a great place to start.

Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim series is only two books so far, but I really enjoyed the hell out of them. Very dark and excellent reads.

Larry Correia's Monster Hunter books are a fun, lighter series. Only two are currently out, but expecting to see a third soon.

Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series is another good choice and unique in my list because Rob is the only female writer on the list. I'm not saying women can't write paranormal sans-romance, but it is not that common (Educate me if I'm wrong!).

Mike Carey's Felix Castor - I've only read the first book and found it good. I'll pick up more later on. I believe there are five books in the series so far?

Simon Green's Nightside series is hardboiled urban fantasy and I enjoyed it a fair amount. There being at least nine books in the series so far makes it very appealing to me. I love a good series. I've only read the first one so far. Green also has a couple other series that might fit this category.

Okay... that starts the ball rolling. Who else fits this category?

[[deleted user]]

I highly second the Felix Castor books. I've read the entire series and I'm currently reading them again.

[Andreanddiane]

I like Tad Williams' The War of The Flowers.

[Robin]

Mercedes Lackey Bedlam Bard series started my love for the genre and the Iron Druid Series by Kevin Herne was what I discovered waiting for Cold Days to finally be released.

[Yokto]

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. Just read the first page and see for your self.

[Chompa]

Yokto wrote: "The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. Just read the first page and see for your self."

I read The Rook, it was great. And a nice recommendation for this subject.

[Amber]

I recently read a book called Mercury Rising (by Robert Kroese), a sequel to a book I haven't read, that's urban fantasy with no romance. Angels on earth, averting the Apocalypse kind of urban fantasy, with a lot of pop culture references and humor.

[Michael]

If you liked Dresden, try the Iron Druid series.

If you liked Sandman Slim, try Joe Pitt (even more gritty).

For humor try Bill the Vampire.

Courts of the Feyre is a good series if you liked Neil Gaiman sort of the same feel.

Crimes Against Magic was a well written novel.

Sharp Teeth, was a weird read about weres in LA (its either love this one or hate it).

Black Knight Chronicles, two vampire detectives bumble thru adventures.

The Divine series was a good one, full of heaven, hell. purgatory, vamps, weres, demons, angels and enough twist to make me a happy reader!

Demon Accord, is another cool series, yah it leans to the romance side but doesn't cross the line with enough fights a bloodshed to erase any romance.

Technomancer, very different type of book powers come from items (kind of like Warehouse 13), other dimensions all in Sin City!

[Joe]

New to the group, late to the thread.

Love the Felix Castor books as well. Wish he would finally write the last book!

Big fan of Sandman Slim. Kadrey has a new stand alone, Dead Set coming out later this year that sounds interesting.

Chris Holms' Collector series is a lot of fun for people who like some noir with their urban fantasy.

Dead Things by Stephen Blackmore.

I second the Joe Pitt books.

If you liked Sharp Teeth, Toby Barlow just had a new one come out this week--Babayaga.

I will have to think more on this.

[Yokto]

Michael, thanks for the Demon Accords. Really loved reading the first few books. Though I must say the only reason I'm not peeved by the romance part might be that it was written by a man. As a matter of fact, all the books that have been suggested so far that I know are written by men. Kind of makes me wonder why there are so many women on this thread.

Anyway, I almost forgot a uf, no pr book written by a woman that I really enjoyed.

Written in Red

[Chompa]

I have also noted that most of the urban fantasy books I enjoy are written by men.

Another series I've very much enjoyed are the Nathaniel Cade books by Richard Farnsworth.

[Yokto]

Just read Fated, which was truly awesome and fits the bill.

[Chompa]

Yokto - Benedict Jacka's books are very good. I've also read the first couple of the Hellequin Chronicles by Steve McHugh which are also an excellent fit for this thread.

[Jeffrey]

chompa, glad to hear that about the helliquin series, it is on the amazon lending library, and I was hesitant, the name sounding very romance based.

[Chompa]

I also thought it sounded like Harlequin Romance. Furthest thing from it.

[Axler]

Also you could try

Ben Aaronovitch: Rivers of London books
Morgan Blayde: Red Moon Demon and the Sequel Green Flame Assasin
Harry Connonlly: Child of Fire
Paul Cornell: London Falling
Justin Gustainis: Occult Crimes books
Elliot James: Charming (does have a little romance in it)
Francis Knight: Rojan Dizon books
Tim Marquitz: Demon Squad books
B Justin Shier: Zero Sight and Zero Sum
Charles Stross: Laundry books
Tim Waggoner: Nekropolis

There may be a little romance in those but it isn't the main plot.

[Chompa]

Aaronovitch's River of London books are very good and I really enjoyed Connolly's Twenty Palaces series too. I'll have to check out some of these others. Not too many are familiar to me.

[Jeff]

I have definitely been trying to fill the void while waiting for the next Dresden Files book. I have read the Iron Druid Chronicles and it was pretty decent. Seems heavily influenced by Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Out of the books previously mentioned in this thread that is the only one I have tried thus far.

I am thinking about Tales from the Night Side next but I think I can add another to the list that hasn't been mentioned. It is from a female author and has a female protagonist and it probably won't appeal to everyone in this group but I have enjoyed the series quite a lot so far. It is the Jane Yellowrock Series by Faith Hunter. The romance element is quite minimal at this point. Any intimate interactions have been tastefully done and are few and far between. I have no interest at all in reading bodice rippers and this book series was interesting and became more compelling as I got to know the characters. It is a decent read.

[Al]

Hi guys.
I would like to give Chuck Wendig a shout out, especially his Miriam Black novels. Kick-ass female protagonist, really violent, funny and fast paced. Strongly recommend.
Looking forward to getting stuck into The Rook!

[Elizabeth]

HI All,

I'm not against romances as part of a story, it's just when it becomes the 'entire' story my eyes start rolling back into my head.

I think most of these have been mentioned before but there good so worth another mention.







The Toby Daye series does have romance in the sense that two of the characters eventually get together but it's never in your face.

[Yokto]

I have to point out that it is against goodreads etiquette for authors to join a group for the express purpose of promoting their book. Also, not being upfront about it, and hiding your book in a stack of other previously suggested books makes you come across as a bit underhanded.

That said, I really liked your book and it fits the topic, so I am happy to give a more disinterested recommendation of Losing it.

It's really cool to have an author on the thread. Congrats on finishing your first book. I sometimes think about writing a book myself, but I'd never have the stamina to keep at it for long enough to turn it into something worthwhile.

You basically had me hooked at "science nerd" in the author description. It recently occurred to me that a lot of authors I like have a science background (unsurprising since I am a scientist too).

Do you have plans for writing a sequel or an other story? I understand that you'll probably wait to see if people actually read the first book you wrote, but you must have some thoughts on the subject.

Looking forward to learning more.

Cheers Yokto

[Elizabeth]

Sorry Yokto,

You are completely right. Yes this my first book and yes I am very new at this. I had a hey this fits moment and then chickened out before saying this is a good example of what happens to your brain when you are stuck on a train for 3 days with only a over sexed monster slayer with emotional issues for company, try not to laugh to hard. It’s now been edited out of the post. I love UF books but am having real trouble digging through the paranormal romances to find good plot driven books with believable characters I can actually care about. This is a good thread.

I have the storylines for 3 books at the moment, sadly mostly in my head, but plotting things out is keeping me amused. I just need to find a break between writing grants to do some proper work on them. I love science (I’m a biochemist working in neuroscience) but the paperwork is horrible. I hope your own field is less traumatic? You are completely right some of my favorite authors also have science background, it must be something to do with the fact that we are all very detail orientated, or less politely we’re all a bunch of nerds.

You should definitely give writing a go. It doesn’t take all that much stamina, in fact it tends to run away with you. I only decided to give a full novel a go because I was traveling and as a lone female often couldn’t got out at night and I’m so glad I did.

Apologies again and I’m glad you gave it a go anyway. There is a complete paranoia that comes from not having any idea of what people might think of what you have written, particularly when you’ve never done this before.

Thanks,

Liz

[Chompa]

Liz, I saw your post where you snuck in your book and was amused by how you did it. And frankly, you put it in good company with the three companions you chose.

I'm going to have to check it out.

[Elizabeth]

Chompa wrote: "Liz, I saw your post where you snuck in your book and was amused by how you did it. And frankly, you put it in good company with the three companions you chose.

I'm going to have to check it out."

Thanks Chompa, I'd go less with sneeky (not that I wouldn't like to be sneeky, it could be very useful) and more with having a brain that doesn't work.

I should have added The Severed Streets. I'm not sure I'd call the series amazing but the shear insanity of making Neil Gaiman a character makes it worth a look. I wonder what he thought of finding out he wrote Neverwhere based on real life knowledge of the mystical side of London?

Cheers and I promise to keep my brain in gear in the future,

Liz

[Chompa]

Liz - I stand corrected. I've picked up your book on Amazon and will add it to my way too long "to read" list. At this point, I'll never complete the list, but I'm totally okay with that.

[Yokto]

It's really funny there are three mentions of Neil Gaiman to describe other books is but no one actually suggested reading Neil Gaiman. The only Neil Gaiman book I read so far was Neverwhere which I did enjoy but I'm not sure it qualifies as UF.

[Chompa]

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

I've read a few Gaiman and have generally enjoyed the books. I highly recommend Ocean at the End of the Lane.

While Gaiman's books often defy genre, I do not think Urban Fantasy fans will be disappointed.

[Elizabeth]

Yokto wrote: "It's really funny there are three mentions of Neil Gaiman to describe other books is but no one actually suggested reading Neil Gaiman. The only Neil Gaiman book I read so far was Neverwhere


I guess Neil Gaimanis just Neil Gaiman. He's occasionally very odd but I do like his work.

The two I'd go with for close to UF would be American Gods and Anansi Boys which oddly you can get as a single addition.



Chompa, good luck with reducing the list I've just given up keeping one. I feel less behind on my reading that way.

[Domino]

I wasn't a huge fan of American Gods. The writing was wonderful but I felt like the story ended too conveniently. I prefer things to get dirty, and I think there's plenty of Urban Fantasy in this thread that is gritty.

I'm still reading through the Dresden Files series - I keep stopping because it's a bit slapsticky at times, but that's part of what makes it so fun. I think I'm looking for something harder, and people keep recommended Rivers of London to me.

[Chompa]

Domino are you saying "harder" as in grittier? I honestly think Rivers of London is lighter than the Dresden Files. For a bit grimmer, I'd suggest the following (each is the 1st in the series). Child of Fire, Sandman Slim and especially Crimes Against Magic

[Domino]

Yes, Chompa, grittier. I'm surprised about Rivers of London. I don't necessarily mean more violent, but maybe a bit more grounded and real and dark.

I might check out Sandman Slim just because I live in LA. Thanks.

[Gerry]

F. Paul Wilson - Repairman Jack Series - ordinary man vs. extra-ordinary circumstance - pretty engaging. So engaging in fact I'm on book 12 of 15. I need to read another series. I think I'll start on Benedict Jacka.

[Axler]

A few more I've read and can recommend.

Stephen Blackmore: Dead Things.
Mike Carey: Felix Castor books.
Larry Correia: Monster Hunter books.
Robert J Crane: Southern Watch books.
John G Hartness: Black Knight Chronicles
T J Hayward: Blood Work.
Mark Henwick: Amber Farrell books.
Charlie Huston: Already Dead.
Benedict Jacka: Alex Verus books.
Richard Kadrey: Sandman Slim books.
Robert Kroese: Mercury books. (comedy)
Craig Schaefer: The Long Way Down and sequels.
Mark Everett Stone: Kal Hakala books.
Tim Waggoner: Night Terrors.

[Cat]

I love this group! exactly what I'm looking for.

Jamie Wyman Wild Card (hinted at romance..)

Holmes on the Range series by Steve Hockensmith<< loved them! so I figure his vampire books might be ok, too.
Christopher Moore.... anyone recommend him?

back to writing down your suggestions!

[Chompa]

I will have to check out Hockensmith. I'm a fan of Christopher Moore from way back. Not really urban fantasy, but not really not urban fantasy either. Funny stuff.

[Joe]

I'm a big fan of Christopher Moore too. Have to be careful who to suggest him too because he can get pretty raunchy. Always a fun read though! Fans of his book A Dirty Job did you know he wrote a sequel called Secondhand Souls that comes out in August?

[Chompa]

I read A Dirty Job last year. I'll have to check out Secondhand Souls. Thanks, Joe.

[C3zpo]

I have read most of the recommendations here and
it´s getting harder to find new stuff
Although the thread is quite old and the list is already pretty comprehensive, I can still add the
Immortal series by Gene Doucette
Schwaab´s Shade of Magic series fits the bill too (no romance) although I stopped reading the series after the first book
and I enjoyed The Rook and Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley.

[Eric]

I really enjoyed SA Hunt's Malus Domestica trilogy. A messed up heroine hunts real witches and runs a monster hunting video channel to make money to fund her hunting. Interesting supporting cast, it has humor, but also gets dark. There is a budding romance between the protagonist and a friend, but it fits the story and isn't overplayed.

I wish she would write more in this series.